As the Safer Schools Campaign lead, I have now made a return to the UK as I had always promised. This is primarily to increase pressure on the Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the UK Government, as well as everyone in Parliament. The aim is to do so by amplifying even further the voices of children and their families and supporters of the campaign and highlighting to an even greater extent the safeguarding failures identified, related to bullying, physical and sexual violence in UK schools and the harm, suicides and deaths that have occurred as a consequence.
The extreme and irrational reaction of the UK Government in response to us recently and the failure of any MP to intervene, should have removed all doubt about the extent of the abuse and violence that children are facing in schools across the UK and the extent to which these issues are being covered up by so many in positions of power.
It is this fact primarily that has compelled me to return in this moment, in order to bring the plight of the children to the very doorstep of those in power who have the power to change things. In an effort to bring about the urgent action that we all believe is required, I have returned to the UK and having given up my home in Leeds I have now taken up permanent residence in the City of London and the City of Westminster in particular. I will continue to reside here for the foreseeable future, until the Prime Minister, the UK Government and Parliament agree that the safeguarding issues will finally be independently investigated and subsequently, appropriate action taken to ensure that lives can be saved.
I have taken the Liberty of writing to the London Metropolitan Police to inform them that while in London and in and around Parliament, Downing Street and Westminster, I intend to campaign peacefully and respectfully as I always have, contrary to what is believed to be baseless reports that have placed me on record as a potential terrorist threat and rendered me subject to potential criminal investigation. https://publicinquirynow.co.uk/enemy-of-the-state
I along with our campaign families and supporters have demonstrated over 12 years of campaigning and in meeting various MPs and people in positions of power, that we have always campaigned appropriately. We have never given indication at any stage, that I or anyone connected to the campaign is any threat whatsoever to public safety or the safety of anyone, in seeking to highlight what is happening to children and what we believe is being deliberately covered up.
I have asked therefore in respect of this, that the police ensure that the relevant authorities and departments, including the Counter Terrorism Unit are aware of my presence in London, as well as my stated intentions in relation to campaign. This will ensure I am not subject to any disproportionate and unnecessary actions on the part of anyone who may for whatever reasons be provided with misinformation regarding my intentions and presence in the area.
The bottom line is this. The Government believed that ensuring I was forcibly returned to the UK would allow them to silence our campaign and in doing so the voices of millions of children who require us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. The Government believed that bringing me back would be the end of our campaign. The truth is that this is just the beginning.
Jason Barnett
Safer Schools Campaign Lead